An ideal visit to Epcot is highly dependent on a few factors – your children’s school hours, your budget, your ability (or desire) to handle extreme weather, or your penchant for special events can all play a role in your planning. In general, the best time to visit Epcot is January and February. During these months, the weather is pleasant and there are not many children in the park.
However, the expected crowds can change from month to month. Epcot is a bit different from the other Disney parks because, aside from a few family attractions, visitors tend to be older. This means that summer may not be as crowded in this park as the Magic Kingdom, but it could get worse during the holidays.
What is epcot?
Epcot, which stands for “Tomorrow’s Prototypical Experimental Community,” is what became Walt Disney’s vision of building a thriving community. It is made up of two distinct areas, Future World and World Showcase. Future World has its fair share of thrill rides like Soarin ‘, Test Track, and Mission Space, as well as more educational rides like Living with the Land and Spaceship Earth.
The World Showcase offers a trip around the world without the need for a passport. Comprised of 11 pavilions representing countries such as Japan, France, Morocco, and China, you’ll get a taste of each region’s culture through food, shopping, educational films, and more. The World Showcase is probably best known as a beverage hub for guests looking to relax with a cocktail outside of the Florida heat.
In the past, the World Showcase was not popular with families, due to the lack of activities for young children. However, the completion of the Frozen Ever After trip (which replaced Norway’s Maelstrom) in 2016 has forced fans of Anna and Elsa to come to this area, at least for one trip.
How much does it cost to visit Epcot?
A one-day ticket to Epcot won’t cost you as much as one to the Magic Kingdom, so if you don’t mind staying in one park, you should buy a single-park daily ticket, no matter what time of year you visit. The price increase, which was introduced in 2016, applies to Epcot, and is based on Disney’s hotel pricing structure.
Each day of the year is classified as a “value”, “regular” or “peak” day. Since prices are calculated on a day-to-day basis, visits on Christmas Eve may be more expensive than on weekends during the summer, based on past attendance records.
Weather in Epcot
Florida is very hot and humid in the summer, and milder in the fall, winter, and spring months (October through May). Since Epcot has a large number of indoor areas, it is a great option for a mid-day visit if you don’t want to return to your resort or swim.
Hurricane season is June through October, but a hurricane is unlikely to hit Florida during your stay.
High season at Epcot
The summer months draw the largest crowds, but since Epcot is the least kid-friendly park, if you must visit during June, July, and August, your best bet is to stay at the World Showcase and avoid Future World altogether.
With that said, these big parties are notorious to Disney’s most massive crowds:
- New Year 1st of January)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (the third Monday in January)
- Presidents’ Day (the third Monday in February)
- Valentine (February 14)
- Easter Sunday (varies between March and April)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Thanksgiving Day (the third Thursday in November)
- Christmas Eve (December 24)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
- New Year’s Eve (December 31)
September is usually a slower time at Disney World, but since the International Food and Wine Festival kicks off this month, Epcot is pretty full this time of year. If you really want to avoid a crowded park, January and February are the best times to visit.
Best Days to Visit for Disney Resort Guests
If you are staying at one of the on-site Disney World resorts, you should take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours program. While dates are subject to change, as of January 2018, Magic Overtime is offered at Epcot on Tuesday nights and Thursday mornings. You should plan on visiting Epcot these days, and you’ll get some private time in the park and little to wait for popular attractions.
If you are not staying at the Disney resort, it is best to avoid visiting Epcot on the days that offer Extra Magic Hours, as this benefit will undoubtedly attract more visitors to the park.
Best time of day to visit
If you want to explore Future World, head to Epcot as soon as it opens, and you’ll be one of the first in line for popular attractions like Test Track and Mission Space. This will severely reduce your wait time for any ride you choose and give you the freedom to use FastPass +.
If you prefer World Showcase, arrive before 11am and you will be one of the first visitors to enter this area. Consider stopping at Soarin ‘on your way, as you will pass it anyway, and this is your only chance to ride without FastPass +.
Plus, the immensely popular Frozen Ever After ride at the Norway Pavilion has extremely long lines in the middle of the morning, so head there immediately upon entering the park or make your Fastpass + reservation as close to the 60-day advanced booking window as possible. . .
Spring
While you may have to fend off spring break, spring can be a great time to visit Epcot, as the weather is not as hot as summer.
Events to watch:
- More than 30 million flowers come to life in March when the park hosts the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.
Summer
Crowds, heat and more crowds! Unlike some of the other parks, Epcot has more indoor areas, so a summer visit can be bearable.
Events to watch:
- Every summer, Epcot presents its Sounds Like Summer concert series at the America Gardens Theater. The concert series includes acts ranging from rock to pop to R&B.
Fall
September is an ideal time for adults to visit Epcot, as most of the children are back in school and the summer crowds have dissipated.
Events to watch:
- Epcot International Food & Wine Festival brings 75 days of gourmet cooking and wine to the park. Needless to say, this event, one of America’s best food festivals, is popular.
Winter
The winter weather in Florida is pleasant, especially for those visiting from northern climates. While Christmas is busy, January and February are nice times to visit.
Events to watch:
- Get in the holiday spirit at the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, when 11 exhibit countries showcase their unique holiday traditions and more.
